Investigation of grain boundary segregation and diffusion to understand chemical evolution of the earth's interior

2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20684024
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Petrology/Mineralogy/Science of ore deposit
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: HIRAGA Takehiko 東京大学, 地震研究所, 准教授 (10444077)
• Project Period (FY): 2008 – 2010
• Keywords: 極細粒高緻密鉱物多結晶体 / 不適合元素 / 粒界拡散 / 希ガス / 貴金属元素 / 超塑性 / 粒界の構造変態 / 高温炉

Research Abstract

Based on experimental studies on grain boundary diffusion and segregation, we are able to show the negligible role of grain boundaries on chemical evolution of the earth interior. Further, using our accumulated knowledge of grain boundary properties, we are able to demonstrate superplasticity of the minerals and to propose grain growth law as a function of mineral fractions.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Mantle superplasticity and its self-made demise (2010)
  • Author(s): Hiraga, T., Miyazaki, T., Tasaka, M., Yoshida, H.
  • Journal Title: Nature Volume: 468 Pages: 1091-1094
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Synthesis of highly dense and fine-grained aggregates of mantle composites by vacuum sintering of mineral nano-powders (2010)
  • Author(s): Koizumi, S., Hiraga, T., Tachibana, C., Tasaka, M., Miyazaki, T., Kobayashi, T., Takamasa, A., Ohashi, N., Sano, S.
  • Journal Title: Physics and Chemistry of Minerals Volume: 37 Pages: 505-518
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Grain growth systematics for forsterite ± enstatite aggregates: Effect of lithology on grain size in the upper mantle (2010)
  • Author(s): Hiraga, T., Tachibana, C., Ohashi, N., Sano, S.
  • Journal Title: Earth and Planetary Science Letters Volume: 291 Pages: 10-20
  • Peer Reviewed